Replace your landline with this $35 Google Voice adapter and make free calls

By Jared DiPane
published

This Google Voice adapter will allow you to ditch your landline (opens in new tab) and its cost, without losing the functionality. Right now, you can save $15 on the purchase, dropping the adapter from ObiHai down to just $35. Getting set up with it is quite simple: all you need to do is purchase the adapter and walk through the setup process at OBiTALK.com.

Some of the reasons you will love this adapter include:

  • Save Money - Use free and low-cost VoIP services from OBiTALK Approved Service Providers to lower your phone bills - Maybe to nothing!
  • Pay Only for the Device — It's Not Locked to a Service! - Easily add VoIP services, to make & receive phone calls to and from regular numbers. In addition, OBi to OBi calls are free.
  • Computer Not Required - All you need is your existing home phone and broadband router.
  • Fantastic Voice Clarity - Talk with your family and friends anywhere in the world, from the comfort of your home telephone.

Newegg is also offering free shipping on this adapter, so be sure to place your order soon if you are interested.

See at Newegg (opens in new tab)

Jared DiPane
Jared DiPane
Jared started off writing about mobile phones back when BlackBerry ruled the market, and Windows Mobile was kinda cool. Now, with a family, mortgage and other responsibilities he has no choice but to look for the best deals, and he's here to share them with you.
49 Comments
  • This is made by a company that can use Google voice. It doesn't use it exclusively. Title is very misleading Posted via the Android Central App
  • Not sure it's misleading. Sure it can use other SIP providers, but the headline is that this is the only device sanctioned by Google to do this with Google Voice. That's probably the reason anyone would be looking at it. If you just want an SIP device, there are literally thousands of options.
  • It's bad to support other services? Google Voice is the one mentioned because you are on a Android site.
  • Land... Line? Tell us of this "land line". It's best to assume I'm being sarcastic. if I'm ever serious I'll type "/s" to make it clear.
  • Keep those periods inside the quotation marks sir. I am an officer of the law... The grammar law.
  • That's actually becoming common across the IT industry- too many cases of:
    When the prompt comes up, type in "discounts." That will take you to the page listing the offers. It says "discounts." isn't a valid option? Easier to move the period than to deal with the literal minded.
  • The American way makes little sense, it's the end of MY sentence, not just the quote. It's best to assume I'm being sarcastic. if I'm ever serious I'll type "/s" to make it clear.
  • Actually, that's not a period, it's a full stop, because I'm British. If you would care to look it up, proper use of grammar places the full stop outside of quotation marks in British English. It's best to assume I'm being sarcastic. if I'm ever serious I'll type "/s" to make it clear.
  • Take that 12th grade American English teacher! I have been using proper grammar all this time... (except now).
  • Fuzzylumpkin I thank you for pointing that out. When I'm around people who don't know the difference between British grammatical syntax & the American usage it can really piss a fella off. The American teachers are to blame for insisting there's only one correct use...English unfortunately, is the language that divides us.
  • Unless he's in the UK....it's preferred outside of the quotes in the UK.
  • Periods only go inside if you have completed a sentence within your sentence. GS7 via the app
  • According to Amazon reviews, they very recently started charging a $10 fee per year for 'support.' Looks like with some knowledge, you can get around it. https://www.amazon.com/OBi200-VoIP-Phone-Adapter-T-38/product-reviews/B0...
  • Interesting... Thanks for the heads-up. Here's a link direct to the review with the step-by-step:
    https://smile.amazon.com/gp/review/R3M2N2BJRY6R2F?ref_=glimp_1rv_cl
  • That info is incorrect. It's a rumor that's seemed to have taken on a life of its own. I have the Obi202, which is the same as this one but with two lines, and I've never been charged. Apparently, this rumor started several years ago when a page mentioning a charge briefly went up. As I understand it, Obihai had not made a decision to do that, and the page was in error, but, from then on, the rumor has persisted.
  • It's absolutely true if you upgrade to a newer firmware (one released in the last year or two). I bought a 202 several months ago and they wanted to charge $10 to set up the device through the web portal, and basically state that continued use of the web portal to stay connected will incur that charge yearly. There is information on Google showing how to set up the device without using the web portal, you just have to be on an older firmware for it to work (if I remember correctly). The threat is that the "older" method of connecting to Google Voice will eventually stop working forcing you to use OAuth, which is only implemented through the ObiTalk web portal, and would require the $10 fee. tl;dr there is a totally hidden, unadvertised annual fee to use the device as advertised. Fortunately, there's a way around it.
  • How is this any different than Ooma?
  • Same question here. I've been using Ooma reliably for years and only pay utility taxes of less than $5 a month.
  • It's different in a couple of ways. First, with Ooma, you must at least pay a minimal amount for basic and 911 service. With Obihai, access to Google Voice is totally free. If you want to add 911, it's available for $15/year from a second VoIP provider (the name escapes me at the moment). That decision is yours, so, if you don't want 911, you don't have to pay anything at all. Second, this box isn't tied to a particular service. You can use any provider you want. In fact, you can have up to 4 services active at once.
  • Thanks for the info. So it is similar, but different and I can see the differences now.
  • Is there any way to link your Google Voice number to 911 for home address? Last time I looked into this, there wasn't. That's the only thing preventing me from switching from Vonage at the moment.
  • You have the option to sign up for 911 service for $15/year. I can't recall the name of the provider that offers it, but they'll tell you about it during setup.
  • YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR 911 SERVICE?? Posted from my cracked Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • Have you ever seen a phone bill? You pay for 911...wired or wireless.
  • No I'm 18 Posted from my cracked Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • That explains the CAPS :)
  • I knew all about bills and how to read them by age 17 and on my own, but I always loved math and economics anyways. If the younger generation is not taught by showing them what bills are and how to read them at a younger age nowadays, then our economy will continue to get worse. Why? Because the younger generation is given more access by their parents sooner by giving them full internet access from devices younger than age 13. Doing this then provides more ways to tempt them to earn or spend more, and much faster than previous generations. Debt, overdraft fees, suspending/banning accounts/IPs/names for over spending, etc can add up fast destroying a person's name even faster if they don't know and don't work with money wisely.
  • Also the government has pushed for the 401K investing into the stock market, and other retirement plans, expecting each individual, to be responsible for their own future, as the large corporation pension plans are being phased out slowly over the last 10 or so years (now sure exactly when). With each new digital automation, or apps, etc., that cuts out jobs, or changes the dynamics of the job market, and less governmental/large corporation support, I would want to study up on how to understand and handle every part of economics if I was 18 nowadays. The years will go by faster than you think. I promise you that much. Good luck.
  • Sounds like you don't like the 401k system. I think it's good for the economy because it opens people up to job mobility. Gone are the days where you need to stick around at a bad employer just to get your pension. With more freedom to take new jobs, the American worker will be more prosperous and in turn, the economy. Any system that gives more power to the people is good in my mind, as long as they learn how to use it right. Even if they don't, a simple Target Date Fund will be more than adequate for most people to sock their money into. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yes, you do. There's a 911 fee on every phone bill, with that money going to service the local call center, unless your state legislature raids the fund. So, if you have active phone service, you pay. Google Voice can get by without paying into the fund because they are pretty clear that, if you use their service, you don't get access to 911 at all. However, I believe all paid services must collect this fee and allow 911 calls. Inactive phone lines, both landline and cellular, get free access because the government decided that it's beneficial for these lines to be able to call in case of an emergency.
  • If you're using Vonage and are happy with it, I would suggest you look into www.ooma.com premier. I switched in 2009 and I have been EXCEPTIONALLY happy with it. for $134 a year plus the $4 in monthly utilities taxes I get two lines, all the bells and whistles, e911, mobile phone integration, Amazon Echo Integration, Nest integration, Hue Integration, and IFTTT integration, plus NoMoRobo! Oh, I can also check my google voice voicemails from my phone by just holding down the Play button on the Telo (hub).
  • The main reason I keep a land line around is for sending faxes. Can Ooma be used to send a fax?
  • I assume security systems that are dependent on a landlines wouldn't function on this is that correct? luvin my s7 edge
  • It is effectively an ATA box, so it should work just fine. I wouldn't use it for such a purpose though, as it's reliant on having an Internet connection.
  • I've had a OBi100 for 3 years using Google Voice works awesome. A niffy plus if you have Sprint and do the Google Voice integration you can then make and receive calls over the OBi100 crystal clear.
  • I have been using an Obi device since last November. I ported my ATT landline number to Google Voice and have no complaints about the service. I did sign up for a service to enable 911 service just in case it would be needed. No charge for calls to the 48 states and very low rates for international calls. Obi says that their device is compatible with alarm systems. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Can you tie two GV numbers to this?
  • Yes. Up to 4, actually, or 3 if you also sub to the 911 service, since it will use one of your available slots.
  • Newegg $34.99 when you view product -> $47.60 in the cart. Bizarre.
  • Can you use this if you have Project Fi?
  • Two totally different services. What you need for this is a high-speed wired connection.
  • Technically you should be as project fi can be used as Google voice. So tks should support it Posted via the Android Central App
  • As long as you have a Google Voice number that is not related or attached to your Project Fi account you can use it just fine from what I understand. Project Fi will not dial from it. I do have my Project Fi number simultaneously ringing my desktop phone and my Obi ringing my Project Fi phone when a call comes in though.
  • I used this for few years and it worked perfectly fine. Now, I moved the GV number to my old N4 and that is my home phone #..:)
  • Google Voice still exists? I thought Fi took it over. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Welcome to 2013 when I got mine.
  • I just set up Obi/GV for my home office line - was easy to configure and sound quality is great thus far! So just a one-time cost for the adaptor and eliminated the "land-line" phone charge from my cable bundle.
  • Just using my Amazon Fire tablet with bluetooth... Works just as well for me. Posted via the Android Central App
  • A number of online sources say Google Voice wasn't going to work with this as of 2015, but since you guys are still posting, I'm assuming it's all good? I have a google voice number already, but if I get an OBIHai 202, will a new setup now still work? Cheers!